We’re taking theatre outside of the theatre. We’re bringing art to the streets. We’re creating real conversation. So get ready…This Labor Day, join us as we present Working In DC!

  • If you like a good block party, you’re going to want to join us.
  • If you support labor justice, you won’t want to miss this.
  • If you like theatre, you’ll definitely want to be there –
  • And if you hate theatre, this might just change your mind.

You are the first to know about Working in DC and we want you to get excited – so save the date, share and follow us on social media, and tell all your friends. You don’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind event. We can’t wait to see you there.

We believe that theatre should serve our communities – and that is the foundation of what we do. Revolutionary theatre is best done outside of the traditional theatre space, breaking down barriers, and offering radical hospitality to all. Working in DC brings together a collection of people who showcase the diversity and activism that DC is known for.

 

This week our core members reflect on what Working in DC means to them. It is more than a theatrical performance, public art, or a musical – it is a way to uplift the stories of the working class, to build bridges in our community, and to spark conversation.

 

But you can hear for yourself what Working In DC is all about!

Working: a musical was inspired by Studs Terkel’s book, Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do. Terkel interviewed a variety of folks about their jobs and ultimately concluded that while work presents many challenges and pitfalls, it can foster meaning in one’s life. Taking pride in one’s work can bring a sense of power – and that power needs to be in the hands of the laborer. 

 

This week we explore the history of labor and its current efforts in our communities. Want to learn more about history, resistance, and labor today? Check out this week’s blog by our co-dramaturg Jordan Ealey. 

Working in DC has become Allied with Broadway For Racial Justice (BFRJ). It is the first theatrical project to be Allied with BFRJ in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area! Learn more about what that means here!
 
Check out our recent Instagram Live with BFRJ’s Executive Director, Brandon Michael Nase, and Working in DC’s Lead Collaborator, Shanara Gabrielle, and Social Accountability & Partnerships Coordinator, Trés McMichael.
Working in DC recognizes that art as labor. We want to amplify our Arts Workers, so this week we interviewed our costume designer Moyenda Kulemeka. Moyenda discussed how the pandemic has affected her as an artist, and how she looks at her job differently. We dive into the struggles and joys of being a theatre artist, and explore how art has served her. 
 
We fast forward to today and her creative process on Working: A Musical, explaining her creative process and the evolution of labor. Moyenda has cracked this show open, breaking away from labor stereotypes and designing “ordinary people.” 

 

Moyenda’s work has been featured at 1st Stage, GALA Hispanic Theatre, Mosaic Theatre, Imagination Stage, Adventure Theatre and others.